Emergency lighting repairs in London

A fitting that goes out before its rated duration, usually three hours, has failed and the escape route it lights is not covered. The usual cause is a battery at the end of its life; sometimes it is the lamp, the charging circuit or the fitting itself. We test each failed fitting, replace what has failed, run the duration test again and update the log book so the record shows the defect was put right.

On most self-contained fittings that indicator shows the battery is charging from the mains. If it is off, the fitting may have lost its supply, or the charging circuit or battery may have failed, and the fitting may not light in a power cut. It is worth checking rather than waiting for the annual test to find it.

It depends on the fitting. Where a replacement battery is available and the fitting is otherwise sound, a battery is usually the cheaper repair. Older fittings with no spares, damaged housings or a layout that no longer suits the room are better replaced, and we say which on the visit rather than repairing the same fitting twice.

The Fire Safety Order 2005 requires fire safety equipment to be kept in efficient working order and good repair, and a failed fitting leaves part of an escape route unlit. There is no fixed number of days, but until it is fixed the risk sits with the Responsible Person, so failures found in a test should be acted on promptly and recorded.